Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 16 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($139,600 vs $196,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $16,161/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.5%)
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
73% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $16,161 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Median Home Value
$57k less
$139,600 vs $196,700
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$16,161
$64,251 vs $48,090/yr
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
73% lower
676.0 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $196,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $64,251 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 8.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 16 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 6 and Oklahoma City wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Memphis to Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $196,700 median home), income ($48,090 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Oklahoma City, OK are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.